[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63954-63957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24249]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-2004-0206; FRL-7683-2]


Thifensulfuron-methyl; Tolerance Actions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is reinstating corn tolerances for the herbicide 
thifensulfuron-methyl. These corn tolerances were previously 
established but inadvertently removed shortly thereafter. Registrations 
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 
for use of thifensulfuron-methyl on corn currently exist and have 
existed for more than 10 years.

DATES: This regulation is effective November 3, 2004. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before January 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: To submit a written objection or hearing request follow the 
detailed instructions as provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION. EPA has established a docket for this action under docket 
identification (ID) number OPP-2004-0206. All documents in the docket 
are listed in the EDOCKET index at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Although 
listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., 
CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on 
the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in EDOCKET or in hard copy at the Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. 
Bell St., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket 
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Nevola, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-8037; e-mail 
address:[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to:
     Crop production (NAICS 111)
     Animal production (NAICS 112)
     Food manufacturing (NAICS 311)
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 32532)
    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be 
affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) 
codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining 
whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any

[[Page 63955]]

questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular 
entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies of this Document and Other 
Related Information?

    In addition to using EDOCKET (http://www.epa.gov/edocket/), you may 
access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA 
Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. A frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 
is available at E-CFR Beta Site Two at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    In the Federal Register of May 12, 2004 (69 FR 26348) (FRL-7358-8), 
EPA issued a proposal to correct an inadvertent error and reinstate the 
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.439 for residues of thifensulfuron-methyl in 
or on corn, field, forage at 0.1 parts per million (ppm); corn, field, 
stover at 0.1 ppm; and corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm. Also, the May 
12, 2004 proposal provided a 60-day comment period which invited public 
comment. In response to the proposal published in the Federal Register 
of May 12, 2004 (69 FR 26348), EPA received one comment as follows:
    Comment. On May 21, 2004, a private citizen from New Jersey 
objected to ``any residue allowed or any exemption to produce this 
product'' and expressed a general concern for chemicals and their toxic 
effects in humans, air, water, and soil.
    Agency response. The comment did not address the inadvertent or 
improper removal of the established corn tolerances for thifensulfuron-
methyl. EPA did not propose the approval of a new chemical but rather 
proposed the reinstatement of the corn tolerances in 40 CFR 180.439 to 
correct their inadvertent removal in 1994. For a food-use pesticide to 
be sold and distributed, the pesticide must not only have appropriate 
tolerances under the FFDCA, but also must be registered under FIFRA (7 
U.S.C. et seq.). Active registrations for use of thifensulfuron-methyl 
on corn have existed since 1994.
    In accordance with current Agency practice, the commodity 
terminologies for the tolerances should be revised from ``corn forage, 
field '' to ``corn, field, forage''; ``corn grain, field '' to ``corn, 
field, grain''; and ``corn fodder, field '' to ``corn, field, stover.'' 
Therefore, in this final rule, EPA is correcting the inadvertent 
removal and is reinstating the tolerances in 40 CFR 180.439 for 
residues of the herbicide thifensulfuron-methyl in or on corn, field, 
forage at 0.1 ppm; corn, field, stover at 0.1 ppm; and corn, field, 
grain at 0.05 ppm.
    On September 17, 2004 (69 FR 55975) (FRL-7679-4), EPA published a 
final rule in the Federal Register that established tolerances for 
residues of thifensulfuron-methyl in or on canola, seed; cotton, gin 
byproducts; cotton, undelinted seed; and flax, seed. Also, EPA 
determined that 10 tolerances for thifensulfuron-methyl, including the 
three corn tolerances reinstated herein, are considered reassessed 
according to FQPA standards.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    A tolerance represents the maximum level for residues of pesticide 
chemicals legally allowed in or on raw agricultural commodities and 
processed foods. Section 408 of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq., as 
amended by the FQPA of 1996, Public Law 104-170, authorizes the 
establishment of tolerances, exemptions from tolerance requirements, 
modifications in tolerances, and revocation of tolerances for residues 
of pesticide chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities and 
processed foods (21 U.S.C. 346(a)). Without a tolerance or exemption, 
food containing pesticide residues is considered to be unsafe and 
therefore adulterated under section 402(a) of the FFDCA. Such food may 
not be distributed in interstate commerce (21 U.S.C. 331(a) and 
342(a)). For a food-use pesticide to be sold and distributed, the 
pesticide must not only have appropriate tolerances under the FFDCA, 
but also must be registered under FIFRA (7 U.S.C. et seq.). Food-use 
pesticides not registered in the United States must have tolerances in 
order for commodities treated with those pesticides to be imported into 
the United States. EPA will establish and maintain tolerances even when 
corresponding domestic uses are canceled if the tolerances, which EPA 
refers to as import tolerances, are necessary to allow importation into 
the United States of food containing such pesticide residues.

C. When Do These Actions Become Effective?

    EPA is reinstating the three corn tolerances for thifensulfuron-
methyl effective November 3, 2004.

III. Objections and Hearing Requests

    Under section 408(g) of FFDCA, as amended by FQPA, any person may 
file an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request 
a hearing on those objections. The EPA procedural regulations which 
govern the submission of objections and requests for hearings appear in 
40 CFR part 178. Although the procedures in those regulations require 
some modification to reflect the amendments made to FFDCA by FQPA, EPA 
will continue to use those procedures, with appropriate adjustments, 
until the necessary modifications can be made. The new section 408(g) 
of FFDCA provides essentially the same process for persons to 
``object'' to a regulation for an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance issued by EPA under new section 408(d) of FFDCA, as was 
provided in the old sections 408 and 409 of FFDCA. However, the period 
for filing objections is now 60 days, rather than 30 days.

A. What Do I Need to Do to File an Objection or Request a Hearing?

    You must file your objection or request a hearing on this 
regulation in accordance with the instructions provided in this unit 
and in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must 
identify docket ID number OPP-2004-0206 in the subject line on the 
first page of your submission. All requests must be in writing, and 
must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk on or before January 
3, 2005.
    1. Filing the request. Your objection must specify the specific 
provisions in the regulation that you object to, and the grounds for 
the objections (40 CFR 178.25). If a hearing is requested, the 
objections must include a statement of the factual issues(s) on which a 
hearing is requested, the requestor's contentions on such issues, and a 
summary of any evidence relied upon by the objector (40 CFR 178.27). 
Information submitted in connection with an objection or hearing 
request may be claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that 
information as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except 
in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the 
information that does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion 
in the public record. Information not marked confidential may be 
disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice.
    Mail your written request to: Office of the Hearing Clerk (1900L), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001. You may also deliver your request to the 
Office of the Hearing Clerk in Suite 350, 1099 14th St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20005. The Office of the Hearing Clerk is open from 8 
a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,

[[Page 63956]]

excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Office of the 
Hearing Clerk is (202) 564-6255.
    2. Copies for the Docket. In addition to filing an objection or 
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk as described in Unit III.A., you 
should also send a copy of your request to the PIRIB for its inclusion 
in the official record that is described in ADDRESSES. Mail your 
copies, identified by docket ID number OPP-2004-0206, to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and 
Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001. In person or by courier, bring a copy to the location of the 
PIRIB described in ADDRESSES. You may also send an electronic copy of 
your request via e-mail to: [email protected]. Please use an ASCII 
file format and avoid the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Copies of electronic objections and hearing requests will 
also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. 
Do not include any CBI in your electronic copy. You may also submit an 
electronic copy of your request at many Federal Depository Libraries.

B. When Will the Agency Grant a Request for a Hearing?

    A request for a hearing will be granted if the Administrator 
determines that the material submitted shows the following: There is a 
genuine and substantial issue of fact; there is a reasonable 
possibility that available evidence identified by the requestor would, 
if established resolve one or more of such issues in favor of the 
requestor, taking into account uncontested claims or facts to the 
contrary; and resolution of the factual issues(s) in the manner sought 
by the requestor would be adequate to justify the action requested (40 
CFR 178.32).

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This final rule reinstates specific tolerances established under 
section 408 of FFDCA. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
exempted this type of action from review under Executive Order 12866, 
entitled Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). 
Because this rule has been exempted from review under Executive Order 
12866 due to its lack of significance, this rule is not subject to 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, 
May 22, 2001). This final rule does not contain any information 
collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable duty or 
contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 104-4). Nor 
does it require any special considerations as required by Executive 
Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice 
in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994); or OMB review or any other Agency action under 
Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 
1997). This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 
note). Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.), the Agency previously assessed whether establishment of 
tolerances might significantly impact a substantial number of small 
entities and concluded that, as a general matter, these actions do not 
impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This analysis was published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950), and 
was provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration. Taking into account this analysis, and available 
information concerning the pesticide listed in this rule, the Agency 
hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Furthermore, 
for the pesticide named in this final rule, the Agency knows of no 
extraordinary circumstances that exist as to the present reinstatement 
that would change EPA's previous analysis. In addition, the Agency has 
determined that this action will not have a substantial direct effect 
on States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132, 
entitled Federalism(64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). Executive Order 
13132 requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' 
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the 
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' This final 
rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food handlers, and 
food retailers, not States. This action does not alter the 
relationships or distribution of power and responsibilities established 
by Congress in the preemption provisions of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. 
For these same reasons, the Agency has determined that this rule does 
not have any ``tribal implications'' as described in Executive Order 
13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000). Executive Order 13175, 
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal 
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations 
that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and the Indian tribes, 
or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the 
Federal Government and Indian tribes.'' This rule will not have 
substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175. 
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.

V. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. This final 
rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

[[Page 63957]]

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.


    Dated: October 18, 2004.
James Jones,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

0
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.


0
2. In Sec.  180.439, the table in paragraph (a) is amended by 
alphabetically adding the following commodities to read as follows:


Sec.  180.439  Thifensulfuron-methyl; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Commodity                        Parts per million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                * * * * *
Corn, field, forage..................................               0.10
Corn, field, grain...................................               0.05
Corn, field, stover..................................               0.10
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FR Doc. 04-24249 Filed 11-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S